CD Reviews: Raging Bull and Kung Fu Hustle

Raging Bull (1980/2005) ***

ROBBIE ROBERTSON/VARIOUS

Capitol/EMI

37 tracks - 2:05:06

MGM released a deluxe DVD edition of Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull late in 2004 to mark
the famous boxing picture's 25th anniversary. And now, in the middle of
2005, Capitol/EMI has made the film's soundtrack available for the
first time. Compiled by the director and Robbie Robertson,
formerly of The Band (the subject of Scorsese's 1978
concert-documentary The Last Waltz),
the album features 33 previously recorded tracks, three original
compositions by Robertson, and a memorable version of "That's
Entertainment" performed by the film's start Robert DeNiro.

Forgotten songs by forgotten pop acts like Ted Weems, The Hearts and
The Nat Shillkret Orchestra make up the bulk of the collection. But
well-known performers show up in the mix, as well, including Marilyn
Monroe, Perry Como and the always graceful Tony Bennett, who delivers a
wonderfully low-key version of "Blue Velvet." Some familiar
pieces also surface -- like Nat King Cole's "Mona Lisa," Louie
Prima's "Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody" and Frank Sinatra's "Come
Fly with Me -- as well as some clunkers. Take Ella Fitzgerald's "Stone
Cold Dead in the Market." A latin swing number about a fed up wife
killing her husband, the song features a great, rumbling orchestra in
the background. But the singer carries on like she's in some schlock
operetta, delivering the lyrics with that same phony pep that spoiled
almost everything Louis Armstrong ever sang.

Several tracks recorded in Europe show up, too, and they tend to
complement as much as they contrast their American counterparts. The
two recordings from the tenor Carlo Buti, for instance, are beautiful
and simple, especially "Stornelli Florentini." As is Orazio Strano's
"Turi Giulliano," a ballad set to a guitar. The symphonic pieces
performed by Orchestra of Bologna Municorp are also superior. On a
composition like "Cavalleria Rusticana: Intermezzo," the strings sound
sweet and tense at the same time, like something Rota might have
written for Fellini. And "Silvano: Barcarolle," a much quieter
composition, moves like water on glass.

Packaged with liner notes by Scorsese and Robertson, it
seems certain that this re-mastered collection of kitsch and
classical music will find an enthusiastic audience. But a cheap thrill
it isn't. The asking price for this double-disc set, that is, is just
about 30 bucks. -- Stephen B. Armstrong

Kung Fu Hustle ***

RAYMOND WONG

Varèse Sarabande 302 066 645 2

19 tracks - 37:46

If the high-mindedness and artistry of such recent martial arts movies
like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
and The House of Flying Daggers are
making you nostalgic for the chop-socky silliness of yesteryear, the
oeuvre of director/actor Stephen Chow may be just what you need. Much
beloved in Hong Kong as a comedic action star for movies with such
titles as Justice My Foot and Look Out Officer, he has become
almost synonymous with his brand of nonsense comedic style. It was
inevitable that he would branch out into directing. His breakout in the
U.S. came last year with Shaolin
Soccer, and this year it was the highly publicized Kung Fu Hustle with fight
choreography by Matrix veteran Yuen Wo Ping.

Hong Kong composer Raymond Wong handles scoring duties, but Chow, like
directors Tarantino and Scorsese, utilizes existing music and songs for
a lot of his set pieces, leaving Wong with the task of connecting all
the pieces together. Wong's contributions (roughly 15 minutes on CD)
are more contemporary in nature, compared to the more existing
classical pieces (both Chinese and European). Think Don Davis' Matrix score, add a bit of bossa
nova, a Chinese guqina and Blue Man Group percussion, and you get a
hint as the eclectic nature of the material. I especially like
traditional action cue, "Buddhist Palm," as well as the Asian
minimalist cue "Midnight Assassin." "Casino Fight" updates the Tan Dun
sound into a nice amalgam of the Asian and Western styles.

The rest of the CD is given over to the source cues, which runs the
gamut from the popular violin section Pablo de Sarasate's from
Zigeunerweise and the always slapstick-inspired Sabre Dance by Aram
Khachaturian, to more traditional Chinese pieces (like "Decree of the
Sichuan General" and "Fisherman's Song of the East China Sea") which
may not be readily available on CD in the U.S. There's even a cue
written by the director himself. None rely too heavily on the
stereotypical chop-socky scores of the '70s, although there are sly
references now and then.

The CD is a bit of a hodgepodge by design, but any U.S. release of a
score by Raymond Wong should be applauded. --
Cary Wong